Veil of Twilight

Chapter XIX
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“Let’s stop here for the night,” Romani said cheerily, jumping off of Epona. Link nodded disinterestedly, dismounting his own horse. He didn’t feel very tired, but rest was probably in his best interest; he had a big day tomorrow.

They were by the river, not far from Hyrule Proper. They could see the walls of Castle Town from where they had stopped. The sun was setting fast, and the gate was closing, barring access. Tomorrow, they would reach the temple, and Link would go inside. He was nervous. The Hero and Romani’s father had confided in him that it was likely that he would die. But still, they wouldn’t accompany him. How could he conquer Zant and save Hyrule, they had asked rhetorically, if he could not conquer a temple by himself?

So they had assigned Romani to take him to the temple. He couldn’t be more annoyed. She had feigned niceties so far, perhaps even tried to mean them, but he could feel immature resentment pouring off of her like a bittersweet perfume. Her rejection was not being received well. He couldn’t be happier, in retrospect, that he had denied her. Who knew what would’ve happened if they had actually gone through with it, considering that she was his generations’ old matriarch? Link shuddered at the memory of their kiss, at his then longing, at the lingering attraction for her physical appeal, despite his knowledge that she would one day give birth to his ancestor.

“Hello?”

Her voice cut through his thoughts. She was staring at him expectantly, apparently having already called his name several times.

“What?” he asked irritably.

“We need to start a fire, dumbass,” she jeered. “Get some wood from the bank.”

“Fine,” he said, glad to be away from her. He started toward the bank, holding his tongue. Despite his petty aggravation, he wanted to smile. Her hot temper reminded him of Midna. He hadn’t expected to miss her.

There was a tree overhanging the river, and there were plenty of fallen branches to collect. He stooped by the water’s edge, collecting a pile in a cradled arm. He picked them up automatically, his mind still whirring with thought. His heart jumped as his eyes registered his next grab, seeing what he was about to touch.

It was the mask, the one the Hero had taken from him. It lie casually on the riverbank, staring at him with hollow eyes, he reached for it, hesitated, picked it up, wiped the mud off. It felt good in his hands.

“Hey!”

Link almost dropped it as Romani called to him, scaring him out of his wits. He called back angrily.

“What?!”

“Are you almost done?”

He stared at the mask; the mask stared back. He remembered the Hero’s story, his warning: the mask had a mind of it’s own. It’s power was best left untapped. He loosened his fingers, ready to drop it.

Another voice spoke, an unexpected memory. It was the fairy he had met in the desert: his fate depended on his actions, she had said. He would need more than just courage to succeed.

He tucked the mask into a pocket within his tunic, concealing it to all but himself.

“Hello?” Romani called again, eternally impatient. Link hastily grabbed a few more branches and headed up the slope to meet her.

…

The drawbridge lowered at dawn, allowing them access to Castle Town. They made their way through the village, towards the outskirts where the temple lay. It seemed funny to Link that his destination was the very place where Romani had found him. Fate certainly had a strange way of laying things out.

The inside of the temple was still and cold. There was no sound except for them. The silence was unnerving. They stepped around the altar and toward the sword chamber. The light from the cathedral window shined upon the pedestal.

As the Hero had instructed, Link jammed the Master Sword back into the pedestal. Immediately he could feel the air swirling around him, the magic of the temple ready to send him through time. Quickly, he twisted the sword, like turning a key. The pedestal turned beneath his feet. The air fell still again. He and Romani watched in awe as the change took place.

Light shone fiercely from the cathedral window. It took shape, and before them was an ethereal staircase, transparent steps seemingly made from light itself. Link tested one with his foot: it felt solid. He turned back to Romani. Her eyes were still glazed in fascination.

“It’s beautiful…” she trailed off. Link nodded in agreement.

“I’ll be back out as soon as I’m finished,” he said to her. She didn’t seem to be listening. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m in there.”

“I wonder what it’s like in there,” she said, apparently not paying attention to him at all.

“Stay here, Romani,” he said sternly. She finally acknowledged him, making a face at him.

“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “Hurry back.”

Link ascended the staircase. The glass gave like mist, and he walked through the window. Romani watched him, still in awe of such magic. Her face fell, after a moment. Now she would have to wait in the creepy temple until Link returned. Her mind nagged at her, taunting her with the possibilities of what may lie behind the glass. She was so curious. Perhaps a peek would be in order. Just to see what was inside.

Romani ascended the staircase.

…

The Great Fairy admired the newborn child cradled in her arms. She caressed it’s soft skin. She felt it stir in her arms, and she smiled, examining it’s blank, perfect features. What a beautiful child it was, born of her ageless blood, uncorrupted by Link and Midna’s mortal ancestry.

She never would have expected to give birth in her long, long existence, but love changed one’s perspective on things, even for an immortal. So she had seduced the hero and the princess, working her alluring magic over the both of them, taking from them what she could not provide herself, borrowing their fertility. Now she had given birth to this child, an honor she was more than happy to carry. She caressed the child once more. Anything for you, my dear, she thought.

She felt the stirring of presence within her cave, and she turned away from the light of the pool, smiling at the new arrival.

“He’s perfect,” the Great Fairy said eagerly, wanting to please the woman before her. The other woman approached, stepping out of the shadows and revealing herself.

“I hadn’t expected him to be born so soon,” Princess Zelda said, her voice resounding with the sound of two people talking. “You’ve done well.”

Zelda looked up and locked eyes with the fairy. It may have appeared to be the princess of Hyrule, but the fairy knew those eyes anywhere. She remembered when she had first seen them, during his rise to power. He had been searching for the three spiritual stones, and had come across her abode, then by Death Mountain. He had taken her, ravaged her without pause for consent. She had loved every moment of it, feeling the power emanating off of him like an aura. She hadn’t expected to see him again after the Sages had ordered his execution. But here he was, after all this time, in the guise of Hyrule’s leader. She had given him a child, as he had asked. She would do anything for him.

“He’ll grow quickly,” the fairy said. “He’ll make a wonderful body for you.”

“You’ve no qualms about sacrificing your child for my gain?” Zelda asked. A hollow question. The answer would not change the outcome. He intended to have this body.

The Great Fairy shook her head, pleased by her own loyalty to him.

“This child was born under special circumstances, solely for you,” she explained. “There’s no soul in this boy. He’s a living vessel. Once you inhabit it, it will be like having your own body back again.”

The Great Fairy stepped forward, pressing her lips to the princess’.

“And when you’re complete once more, we’ll rule Hyrule, together.” She smiled at Zelda. Zelda did not smile back.

“You’ve done well,” the princess repeated. She stepped forward, initiating the kiss this time. The fairy gave into Zelda’s embrace immediately, still holding the child in one arm, the other wrapped around Zelda’s neck. The fairy’s eyes shot open as she felt a blade penetrate. Zelda could taste blood seeping from the fairy’s mouth into their kiss. The fairy stepped back, her grip on her child loose. Zelda held the child, watching the Great Fairy stumble away. It was interesting to see, the princess thought. The fairy was ageless, and had probably never felt pain, but she was not invulnerable, especially to one so powerful.

Zelda turned and disinterestedly left the cave, child cradled in arms. The fairy stumbled back, tripping over her own feet and falling into the pool. Her blood mixed with the water. She tried to hold on to thought, but it was hard. She had never felt this way: it hurt, and she felt so tired. She tried to call out to her love, to tell him to come back, that she still loved him, would still do anything for him. But she couldn’t speak, and she closed her eyes.

…

Link grasped the key in his hand, it’s stone weight assuring. He had been apprehensive about traversing the temple without his sword, but all doubt had been cast aside. He had found something even better.

At the end of the corridor was a large stone door. He knew the mirror shard was in there. Flanking the door were two enormous statues, their monolithic arms wielding axes that barred the way, rendering the pass impassable.

Link raised his arms confidently, smirking all the while. In his one hand free of the key, he clutched a heavy stone scepter, its head crowned with an intricate design. It vibrated powerfully in his hand. He swung his arms apart in an exaggerated motion, as if he was the conductor of an orchestra.

Obediently, the two statues guarding the doorway lifted their swords, the stone grating dryly as they lifted their ancient arms. Link’s grin widened; he felt he would never grow bored of this tool. Since finding it, he had been using every controllable object in sight, smashing through enemies and traps alike.

He stepped forth and used the key, the giant padlock dropping to the floor with a satisfying clank. The room before him was dark. He stepped inside.

The room was enormous, with a rounded ceiling like a dome. There were sporadic holes in the ceiling, letting in shafts of light so solid and bright they looked tangible. Against the walls, in a circle, were more statues, armed with stone axes and swords. The room appeared long since untouched, with everything covered in a disgustingly thick film of cobwebs. As he walked, he noticed another sound echoing amongst his footsteps, panicked and unmistakable: A voice. He looked up toward the ceiling.

“LINK!”

Romani was on the ceiling, wrapped from feet to shoulders in a white film. As he watched, she became more and more encapsulated within the stringy substance, her face rapidly disappearing from view.

“HEEELL-” she was cut off as the stuff covered her mouth. He looked around the ceiling wildly for her attacker. A bulging red eye swiveled into view, it’s pupil narrowing to focus on him. The giant thing moved, crossing between the beams of light where he could see it. It was a giant spider, it’s exoskeleton seemingly made from stone. It’s eye, centered on it’s thorax, never left him as it skittered across the ceiling and down the wall, crawling right towards him.

Link took a several steps back, panicking as it approached him. His days of training seemed to fall out of his head, and all he could think of was to run away. His eyes turned upward toward Romani. She was still wrapped in webbing on the ceiling, struggling to free herself, only her red hair revealed. He had no idea how she had ended up there, but he had to save her.

Still looking up, he took another step back and tripped over his own feet, falling backwards and hitting his head against something hard. He almost blacked out, but the sound of the approaching monster kept him grounded. He looked up and saw a statue looming over him, it’s axe ready to swing down.

The spider closed in, it’s gross mouth open and ready to eat him. Link swung the scepter down, a last ditch attempt to defend himself. The statue responded to the inadvertent command, swinging it’s axe down. It crashed against the ground, just before the spider, keeping it at bay. It mewled angrily, reaching it’s forelegs around the axe, trying to get him out from behind it. Link timed the spider’s advances and ran, ducking under a swipe and sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him.

He stayed by the wall, next to the statues. He swung the rod down as he passed them, hoping to catch the spider as it followed. His timing was off, though, his instincts clouded by panic, and he greatly missed each strike, only slowing the creature down.

He focused ahead of him again, catching himself just in time: he had come full circle, and was about to run head long into a statue’s axe barring his path. He skidded to a stop, avoiding concussion, but trapped. He pressed his back against the cold stone of it, watching as the spider approached. His mind was a blank; he could not think of a single thing as the spider closed in.

He shifted, and felt a weight on his chest. His heart skipped. The Hero’s mask, he still had it. He acted on impulse, the creature just yards away from him now. He pulled the mask out from his tunic and shoved it against his face.

He immediately regretted it. The pain was immense, like nothing he had ever felt. He remembered, what seemed like years before now, when he had transformed into a wolf. It was similar, but was nothing compared to what he felt presently, in terms of intensity.

Then it was over, and he was away. He saw where he had been a moment ago, leaned against the stone axe, the spider standing there vapidly, trying to figure out where he had gone to.

He was behind it, perched upon another axe, balancing perfectly. He didn’t remember consciously moving, just knew that he had, as if instinct was his guiding force, rather than thought. He reached behind his head, although he couldn’t say why he did so. His hand gripped the hilt of a sword, which was strange because he didn’t have one. He drew it, and marveled at it; it was huge, the length of his entire body, woven in and out of itself in a helix.

He jumped down from the axe without deciding to, landing silently. The world was farther beneath him, and he knew somehow that it was because he was taller than he had been a moment ago. He raised the Dominion Rod in his hand. The axe before the spider rose accordingly. He smiled, although he didn’t know what was funny.

The spider skittered in confusion, but there was no saving itself. He swung the rod down, catching the spider by it’s forelegs. It mewled and struggled to get away, but could not without severing it’s own legs.

Link approached it casually, his giant sword dragging alongside him. He methodically severed the legs of the creature, working around it’s body and removing each limb one by one. He stood before it’s maw as he made to disconnect it’s last leg. It didn’t snap at him, just mewled helplessly. Link smiled again, and hacked it’s last leg off. The creature lay pathetically, immobile and defenseless.

Link stepped over it’s face, walking over it’s body, towards the eye in the thorax. He stopped before it, conscious thought clouding his actions for the first time since he had donned the mask. He could see his reflection in the glistening eye of the creature; he was not himself.

He was taller, almost a head taller. His hair and tunic were both white, and he was sporting an intricate chest plate. His face was covered in tribal markings, whether they were paint or tattoos or just his skin, he couldn’t tell. His eyes were white, completely devoid of iris and pupil, but still he could see this strange character, one that looked like some strange version of himself.

The thought faded, and he drove his sword into the eye, twisting and turning it furiously, absolutely goring it until it was a mass of bloody jelly. He hopped of the spider’s carcass, looking up at the ceiling directly above him. The girl was still in there, writhing helplessly. It was sort of funny, but he supposed he should help her. He swung his sword up at her, and from the tip of the blade came what looked like a beam of pure energy. The beam severed the webs holding her up there, and she fell down towards him. Link reached up and pulled off his face.

Link gasped for air as the mask came off, as if he had been suffocating the entire time. He looked up just in time to outstretch his arms and catch Romani. She struggled in his grip. Probably she thought he was the spider. He set her down on the floor and, after giving the mask a last curious look, tucked it away. He knelt down by Romani and began tearing at the webs. She gasped for air as her mouth was revealed, and as soon as her hands were free she began ripping away threads herself.

Finally free, she jumped up and wrapped her arms fiercely around Link’s neck.

“Oh, Link thank the Goddesses!” She cried. He could feel hot tears on her face. “I’m so sorry! I know you told me to stay there, but I just couldn’t help it, and I-”

“It’s alright,” he interrupted her, laughing. “It’s all over now. Let’s just get out of here.”

Romani nodded, taking one last look back at her captor. She grimaced when she saw it in it’s dismembered, disemboweled state.

“Holy cow, Link,” she said, half joking. “What’d you do to that thing?”

Link laughed sheepishly, masking his confused unease.

“Couldn’t tell you if I tried.”

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Finally another update. Everytime I think I'll be able to consistently post chapters, something comes up. Thanks everybody, for sticking with me.

"Max" and "JB," thanks for the reviews. I've recently realized that somewhere along the line, this story has nearly reached twenty chapters, with about a third of the story to go. I don't want to keep people reading forever, so I'm going to try to move things along. In the meantime, I really hope everyone is enjoying it, and I'll really try to put more up soon. Please let me know what you think; it means the world to know that people are enjoying it.